She felt something…
Is someone lifting me? Stop.
Who is it?
"Leave me alone…" Hina mumbled, barely conscious.
"I'm taking you to the hospital."
The voice was calm. Familiar.
Hina softly groaned back. Accepting her fate.
Allowing her body to go limp.
She woke up in a hospital bed hours later.
The steady beeping of the machines around her.
The warmth of another hand wrapped around hers.
She slowly turned her head.
Dad.
Slumped in the chair, head resting against her hospital bed, his hand tightly enveloped hers.
Her throat felt heavy, but she faintly smiled.
Across the room, she spotted Furayu, sprawled on the sofa with… Ren? Curled up right next to him fast asleep.
Oh it's two in the morning makes sense.
Surveying her surroundings again.
She noticed Inoue laid curled on the floor next to the two on the sofa. Such a bewildering scene didn't feel wrong to her.
She chuckled to herself.
"Wow…" She said aloud, voice hoarse. "Everyone's just asleep, leaving me all alone now, huh?"
Her lone voice echoed in the room, killing the silence
Inoue stirred.
Her eyes slowly opened, her long eyelashes flickered open. She looked around, dazed. When her gaze met Hina's. Fully awake and seemingly happy.
Then without a second thought, she launched at Hina.
"YOUR OKAY! THANK GOODNESS!" Inoue cried, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
The warmth, the awkwardness of Inoue's attitude all hit Hina at once.
Once again she felt.
Safe. Safe again.
Hina's voice was muffled by Inoue's chest, she was buried deep in the balls of softness.
"Oh sorry." Inoue quickly pulled away.
"No. Come back." Hina said firmly, eyes shone with mischief.
"Why?"
"Because…" Hina grinned, her head tilted slightly with a drunk expression. "Big boobs in my face is amazing."
Inoue stared, she couldn't believe what Hina just said.
"W-What's wrong with you!?" Inoue stammered out. "Making weird comments. Did they hit you too hard on the head or something!?"
Hina leaned forward, inching herself closer like a gremlin.
"Nope." Hina laughed. "I just think a model's boobs feel really nice."
"J-just shut up!" Inoue shouted, completely flustered.
"HUUH!? WHAT'S GOING ON WHERE'S MY PRINCESS!" Hina's dad jolted awake in his chair.
Hina burst out into laughter at her dads reaction.
Inoue did her best to keep a straight face.
And failed.
They seemed to double down, giggling like kids sneaking snacks at midnight.
"Dad… you really are something…" Hina managed between getting breaths for laughter.
Their laughter filled the room, a warm friendliness. A sharp contrast to the fear she had felt just a couple hours earlier.
Ren slowly woke up, blinking sleepily as the sound of laughter reached her ears.
Her eyes slowly adjusted to the light to her surroundings, then widened.
"Eek!" She squeaked, noticing how she was curled up cozily against Furayu.
Huh!? I- I- I'm sleeping with Furayu like this? Where's Inoue? Why am I the only one sleeping on the sofa?
Flushed and filled with embarrassment, she slid away from the sleeping Furayu, walking to Inoue, wrapping her arms around her from behind.
"I love hugs." Ren calmly whispered.
Inoue blinked in confusion. Realising it was Ren, a soft smile crept onto her face. Turning around and returning the hug.
"I love big boobs…" Hina whispered to herself, watching the two embrace.
"You can ask for hugs anytime!" Inoue quietly said. Her tone soft but hinged with warning. "But make sure you don't go near that weirdo."
She tilted her head toward Furayu, indicating he was the weirdo.
Her tone was protective. Her message clear.
"This… bastard isn't even awake yet." Inoue muttered, staring daggers at Furayu as he lay passed out on the sofa..
Without warning, she marched over and hit him across the chest.
"WOAH WHO'S HI-" Furayu jumped upright in panic, flailing and accidentally hitting Inoue in the process.
"OW!" She yelped. "WATCH WHAT YOUR DOING IDIOT!"
"This isn't the time to be doing this." Furayu blinked groggily, rubbing his head. Turning his attention to Hina. "Hina. What happened?"
The moment she became the centre of attention, Hina's entire body went into panic mode.
Her body froze. Eyes widened. She began to hyperventilate. The white sterile lights above felt like a spot light. The people around her, her friends? Her dad? They didn't look like people. They felt like looming shadows, preying on her. Waiting for her to show weakness.
No space.
No escape.
"Honey?" Her dad said gently, noticing her fear. He comforted her. "You Okay?" .
She ran into his chest, the warmth of her father gave her a lifeline.
Being held by him… Someone who always showed up. Someone who would never fail her. It felt surreal. But it was enough to bring her back to reality.
"Dad… It was so scary…" Hina cried, her voice trembled.
"I know sweetie, it's safe now." He murmured.
Inoue approached with care and rubbed Hina's back slowly. Her expression softened with sympathy.
"Hey." She whispered. "You're not alone. We're here for you."
"I know. Just…" Hina's words stopped. Her throat stopped them from coming out. The trauma overwhelmed her.
No one spoke. Just waited, giving her time.
"He punched me." She finally choked, her words filled with anxiety. "Hit me with a stick and kicked me."
Her dad's face stiffened. His gentle expression transitioned into fury.
"I see…" He calmly said. "I'll find who did this. So don't worry darling."
"Mhmm." Hina mumbled out.
The safety in the hold of her dad's was unmatched.
Ren quietly cleared her throat. "Sorry to be a bother… What do you mean by you're going to find this person?"
"I'm a detective." He replied. "And anyone who hurts my Hina. I'll find them."
"Dad."
"Yes darling." He replied softly.
"They were a good bit taller than me, maybe five foot fourish ." She quietly murmured.
"A 5ft 4 to 5ft 5. Do you know the gender?"
"No, I don't know their gender, they were covered up fully so I couldn't tell at all who and what they were." She curled in her dad.
"It's okay honey, I'll find them for you." Her dad nodded grimly. His jaw clenched and burning eyes told another story than his voice was.